STAND. COM. REP. NO. 427

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 331

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 331, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PERMITS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish an exemption from applicable county permit requirements for repetitive construction projects for facilities under the control of any state department or agency; and

(2) Clarify that contracts for the construction, renovation, or repair of facilities under the control of the Department of Education, University of Hawaiʻi, or School Facilities Authority are exempt from county permitting requirements that related off-site improvements be made by the contracting government agency as a condition to the issuance of any permit, except for projects in special flood hazard areas.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Education; University of Hawaiʻi System; School Facilities Authority; Grassroot Institute of Hawaii; Hawaiian Islands Republican Women; and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Board of Water Supply of the City and County of Honolulu and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the county permitting process coordinates work with fire, water, electrical, and various other county approvals. This measure would streamline the permitting process for projects under the control of certain state agencies.

Your Committee has amended this measure by specifying that repetitive construction projects include minor renovations.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 331, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 331, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI, Chair